Welcome to the National Youth Theatre’s news and views page.
We are in the process of updating our website but I hope you like our new interactive page in the meantime, and we have just discovered that in the past two weeks alone we have had over 1 million hits to the site. It proves there is a great deal of interest about this unique and vibrant company which remains Britain’s leading Youth Arts Charity. And when you discover what we are doing already this year, it’s no surprise!
It has been a busy and exciting start to 2008. We began with a return visit to Soho Theatre (see reviews page) with our critically acclaimed production of ‘White Boy’ written by Tanika Gupta and performed by some of the best young talent in Britain today. The play’s subject matter focuses on knife crime in schools which sadly became all too poignant during the run as every week saw another fatal teenage stabbing. This production proved that drama and our new writing programme can give an urgent voice to relevant issues whilst also recognizing the need to tell a good story through an inventive ensemble style which the audiences and critics raved about.
At the same time, thanks to our Volunteers programme we took three NYT members to Beijing to work with students form the central academy of fine arts on a brand new form of interactive digital entertainment. This is the beginning of an exciting cultural exchange programme between young people in china and the National Youth Theatre. We are also the only British company to have been invited to take part in the international youth arts festival in Beijing as part of the Beijing Olympic cultural celebrations. With the recent media attention and statements from various high profile figures questions have been asked whether we should not go to china for reasons of human civil rights. The opportunity to take members of the NYT representing Britain abroad and to exchange with like minded young people in china is a positive beginning to breaking down social political barriers that the ‘not so young’ are keen to put up. If you have any views on this I am always happy to hear them. Send us an email to info@nyt.org.uk.
We’ve also received some good news from the arts council, who have increased our funding. But we still have some way to go in gaining financial security.
The National Youth Theatre has proven to be a vital, unique and life changing organisation for Britain’s youth whilst retaining its standard of excellence in the creative arts. It is a great beginning to 2008 and we are ready, willing and more than able to face the creative and social challenges that lie ahead!
Paul Roseby.
